First segment of Canada’s high-speed rail will connect Ottawa and Montreal

The federal government of Canada has confirmed that the first phase of the national high-speed rail project will connect Ottawa and Montreal, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced.

Unveiled in February, the project envisions a high-speed rail network spanning approximately 1,000 kilometres and linking Toronto with Quebec City. Trains are expected to reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. The initial segment between Ottawa and Montreal will be about 200 kilometres long, with construction scheduled to begin in 2029.

Alto, the Crown corporation overseeing the project, will launch a three-month public consultation process in January 2026. Through in-person meetings, virtual sessions, and an online platform, Canadians will have opportunities to share their views on the proposed corridor.

MacKinnon said selecting the Ottawa–Montreal segment first will allow preparatory work to begin simultaneously in Ontario and Quebec. A final decision on full project funding has not yet been made.

Alto CEO Martin Imbleau noted that construction could create up to 50,000 jobs. The federal government has described the project as one of the largest infrastructure investments in Canada in decades.